Well Woman Blog

If you've ever suffered through a bout of depression – even a minor bout – you've no doubt heard these oh so helpful (NOT) remarks or similar ones:

• Come on. Snap out of it.
• Stop feeling sorry for yourself
• Go take a nap (walk,have some ice cream,go shopping) and you'll feel better.
• It's all in your head

It's obvious these people have never known true depression. Sure, there are others forms of depression that can be shaken off, but what I'm discussing here is called clinical depression. Wikipedia describes it this way:

Clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder, or sometimes unipolar when compared with bipolar disorder) is a state of intense sadness, melancholia or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individual's social functioning and/or activities of daily living. Although a low mood or state of dejection that does not affect functioning is often colloquially referred to as depression, clinical depression is a clinical diagnosis and may be different from the everyday meaning of "being depressed."

Clinical depression can be managed, to a degree, by the use of antidepressants. Psychological treatment can be a benefit. Psychology.org says:

For some types of depression, particularly more severe depression, a combination of both antidepressantmedication and psychological treatment may be most helpful. Antidepressant medication helps change an individual's mood state, and increases responsiveness to psychological treatment. This treatment provides support and strategies to change depressed thinking and behaviour and improves long-term coping skills to minimise future relapse.

• Is It Really Clinical Depression?
• St. John's Wort for Depression
• Depressed? No Condom. Please
• Causes of Depression